CAC Awards - 2012 Award Winners

by Amy Crum

Downtown School Addition - Winner of the Count Zinzendorf Award

Located at the corner of Trade Street and 7th Street, the school was originally on the lower level of the former City Market Building. A separate annex, located on the far north of the site, was added in the 1990’s. The new addition provides the space needed to expand the school’s program to allow for 6th through 8th grade education.

The approximately 21,000 sf facility was designed to interact with the old City Market Building as well as the Trade Street environment as seamlessly as possible. The new building is three stories tall, allowing one story to be dedicated for each grade level. The building’s roof area is used for a greenhouse on the south side and a seating area on the east side overlooking Trade Street. The new addition also provides a storefront presence to the Trade Street corridor with a designated space allowing for student artwork and other items to be sold to the public.

Through extensive effort and creativity, Ersoy Brake Appleyard Architects designed a building that not only meets the needs of the Downtown School but also strengthens the Trade Street corridor at Seventh Street.

The Reynolda Building - Winner of the Joseph Winston Award

Located at 835 Reynolda Road, the building is in a highly visible area opposite the north end of Hanes Park and provides a transition from the western suburbs of the city into the historic West End community.

Years of neglect and a mish-mash of alterations created a disjointed appearance. The overall objective of the project was to renovate the façade of this mixed-use building with the goal of uncovering the original façade and unifying its appearance.

Brick was re-grouted to give the upper and lower levels a more consistent look, and brick that was missing was replaced. Two apartments received new HVAC systems in order to remove window air-conditioning units. Restoration of the original storefront opening sizes was also included, along with updates on windows to the second story apartments. Features such as pleasing window mutton patterns, wrought iron window railing, lighting accents and fabric awnings reminiscent of the original style of the building were added. Multiple overhead utility services were consolidated and re-routed to clean up the façade.

The renovation of the façade contributes to the beautification of an important entry point to the city by appealing to the pedestrian nature of the street and park. Also, it strengthens the economic viability of the neighborhood by enhancing two storefronts and four apartment units.

The Quality Oil Company Building - Winner of the Joseph Winston Award

Built in 1938 as a Shell service station and headquarters building for the Quality Oil Company, the Quality Oil Company Building is located at the intersection of Northwest Boulevard and Reynolda Road just steps away from the Reynolda Building that was just awarded the Joseph Winston Award.

In 2009, Thomas H. Hughes architect Andrew Lopina began to work with developer Acacia No.1, LLC to envision new life for this building. Every effort was made to retain and feature the original architectural elements of the building during the design. From the original wood and concrete floors, the heavy timber columns, the operational garage doors, the multi-lite metal windows, and the terracotta copings, original materials were protected, refurbished and featured. The rolled chrome-finish metal canopies on the front and side of the gas station were recreated from old photographs. Minor changes required to meet current codes were made within the spirit of the original architecture.

Now the building has multiple tenants. Bob's Big Gas Subs and Pub is located in the former corner gas station with Salem Smiles Orthodontist located above. Two businesses occupy the central portion of the former Quality Oil complex: Core Fitness and Village Yoga. Winston-Salem's Theatre Alliance was the first occupant of the restored building in 2009, moving into the former tire warehouse.

The rehabilitation of this landmark building by Acacia LLC and Thomas H. Hughes Architecture has not only reestablished its presence on Reynolda Road aesthetically but it has also established its economic presence in the West End community.

The Ronald McDonald House - Winner of the City Council Award

Located on Hawthorne Road next to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, the House opened in 1984 and expanded in 1997. Sensitive to the concerns of residents in the historic Ardmore neighborhood, the first addition created a second “house” linked to the first by a discreet connector. The first expansion was recognized by the Community Appearance Commission in 2001.

In 2008, when the organization was ready to expand again, they returned to the same design team, CJMW Architecture. The new expansion, completed in 2010, adds another two “houses” to the facility. Like the first, the design works with scale, careful site placement, materials and detailing to fit into the established Ardmore neighborhood and streetscape. Designed to function as one seamlessly integrated building, all four houses present themselves to the observer as separate dwellings. The new expansion doubled the size of the existing facility from 17,000 sf with 17 bedrooms to 31,000 sf with 35 bedrooms. The expansion also includes a new kitchen/dining area plus much-needed public and administrative space.

The design team conducted a detailed study of the neighborhood, analyzing forms, structures, and styles of houses in order to continue the feeling of a neighborhood street. Each house has different materials and forms, emphasizing the individuality of each piece and thereby becoming a natural part of the neighborhood. Like any house, the back is also highly detailed. Different materials and forms are carried through from front to the back to maintain the level of visual diversity and individuality.

Wrap-around porches and seating in the interior courtyards provide places for families to gather outside. The landscape design creates separate “yards” that flow together as one, allowing for play and gatherings on the front lawn. All in an effort to create a “home away from home” experience for the visiting families.

The design of the Ronald McDonald House respects and enhances the traditional character of the Ardmore neighborhood streetscape and demonstrates a commitment to the appearance of the neighborhood.

The BB&T Ballpark - Winner of the Mayor's Award

Located on Broad Street at the edge of downtown Winston-Salem, the ballpark has revitalized and transformed its site and provides an attractive venue that brings people into downtown and the community. It is the result of effort on the part of multiple individuals, groups, organizations and companies, as well as support from the City of Winston-Salem.

The design team worked together to take advantage of the ballpark’s sloping “bowl-like” site to create a design that would invite the community in – literally and figuratively. Viewpoints, both into and out of the ballpark, were important considerations in the design. The ability to see-in and see-out helps make the community part of the ballpark – everyone from season ticket holders to passersby can see the field and feel the energy of the game.

The design of the stadium creates a classic ballpark feel while also being linked to the local aesthetic. The brick detailing of historic and vintage brick buildings provided inspiration for the brick patterning, oriented to both the “highway-view” scale and the human scale. Oversized brick paired with details such as recessed and corbelled banding not only relate to Winston-Salem’s aesthetic character, but also help diminish the overall scale of the stadium, making it more relatable to those on foot.

The design also includes arches on the stadium that are a lower curve and more akin to the Moravian arches in the local historic buildings. Similarly, the design team drew inspiration from local train trestles over lakes and rivers in the area, such as Salem Lake, in the design of the pedestrian bridge.

The BB&T Ballpark design incorporates elements of the community’s history while creating a modern and inviting venue for the public. The new facility brings people from the community and surrounding communities into the Downtown thereby playing a vital role in its revitalization.

The Beverage-Air Headquarters - Winner of the County Commissioners' Award

The headquarters for the Beverage-Air Company is located on Champion Boulevard in northern Winston-Salem. Completed in June 2010, the new one-story, 22,000 sf facility stands out among other buildings in this busy industrial area of Winston-Salem. It represents a much-needed effort to improve the aesthetic character of the area.

The Beverage Air Headquarters is the third project on the Ali Group’s corporate campus and complements the campus’ contemporary architecture. The added objective of achieving LEED Certification was complimented by the Italian owner’s interest in a minimalistic, International-styled architectural response.

The open plan office environment, maximizing the use of natural light, is bisected by a dramatic north-facing entry element. Integrated into the entrance are a symbolic “corporate blue” feature wall and a metallic curved ceiling, both of which celebrate the company’s refrigeration product line. As a whole, furnishings, finishes, and art installation were designed to support the company’s Italian manufacturing heritage.

The Entrance Garden and Waterfall at the William G. White Jr. Famiy YMCA - Winner of the Benjamin Forsyth Award

The YMCA is located on West End Boulevard in the West End Historic District. In 2010, the William G. White, Jr. Family YMCA front entrance was renovated to install an elevator to provide better access for handicapped members. As a result, the existing garden was removed. Efforts were made to preserve and reuse the mature plant materials by creating a new garden area on the north end of the building.

The object of the new garden entrance was to amplify and refine the naturalistic style of the previous landscape. The garden has evolved into a more sophisticated design, which is complementary to the building architecture and enhances the natural topography of the area. While the new garden does include an area for seating, the focal point is the water feature.

The harmonious use of a great number of both native and exotic species makes the landscape a significant botanical resource for the community. Due to this botanical richness, the garden maintains structure, sequence of blooms and interest year round. The extensive use of local stone evokes a definitive sense of the geographical environment.

Not only has the project established a beautiful campus, but each outdoor space provides creative and valuable opportunities in preparing students for 21st century expectations and goals. The school has secured strong support within our community to sustain the project goals and maintenance.

The project included the development of three eco-friendly outdoor learning centers supporting core curriculum goals in the school’s “hands-on, minds-on” mission which inspires students to develop a love, a responsibility of, and a deeper understanding of their scientific, natural world. Students use 21st century technology to view, present and apply what they have learned from their real life outdoor center experiences in the classroom setting.

One space includes a vegetable garden and seasonal plantings where children will plant, observe, and learn the basics of sustaining a working garden. Another area will provide opportunities for students to observe animals in their natural environment and encourage an eco-friendly approach toward the preservation of our garden spaces. A pergola and amphitheatre seating along with aesthetically pleasing perennials complete the third area as a performing arts and reading space. The use of digital cameras and the purchase of an outdoor webcam create a plethora of ideas and activities tied to writing, performance, reading, and science goals.

The Brookberry Farm Village Center - Winner of the Flora Ann Bynum Award

Developers Jim McChesney and Graham Bennett engaged Acanthus Architecture to design and oversee the construction of the Village Center. The architects drew from the refined farm aesthetic of the original 800-acre estate and used simple forms to create graceful structures and gathering spaces for the new community. The placement and interaction of the structures were the result of a collaborative effort between designers and landscape architects to preserve and celebrate the natural beauty and history of the site.

The Brookberry Farm Village Center is located at the site of an existing dairy barn, which was converted into an assembly space for receptions, banquets, and other gatherings. The renovations involved a new service wing and the removal of the second floor hay loft to open the main space to the full height of the original arched rafters. The new buildings in the complex include the clubhouse, fitness center, connecting colonnade, and croquet pavilion.

Through the conservation of the original barn and the design of the new structures, the Village Center has been created in such a way to both celebrate its history and welcome its new residents.

Dwight Love - Winner of the George Black Award

Dwight Love is a second-generation plasterer. He learned the art of plastering at the age of eight as he accompanied his father, Dock Love, Jr., to various worksites. Coincidently, his father was the first recipient of the George Black Award at the inaugural Awards Program in 1990.

He is recognized for his knowledge and experience in the art of plastering both locally and regionally with his skills being utilized in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, and Asheville. He is skilled in both plaster and stucco. His work ranges from residential work in older homes to historical structures in Old Salem, particularly at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.

He has also been called upon to share his experience and skill with graduate students in the University of North Carolina-Greensboro historic preservation program. This summer field school held every year at Old Salem. Students are taught the history and art of applying plaster as it pertains to the restoration of historic structures.

Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts - Winner of the AIA Award

The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts is located on Marshall and Spruce Streets at Second Street in Downtown Winston-Salem. The creation of the Center was a collaborative effort involving local designers, which includes both renovation and new construction.

The project began as a renovation of a historically-significant mill, known as the Sawtooth Building. To meet the program needs of the Arts Council and the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts, the existing building was expanded to include an exhibition gallery, conference rooms, and several large multipurpose spaces.

The Spruce Street façade of the completed Center showcases the new construction portion of the project, including a new entrance drive and landscaping. The southern portion includes the 300-seat Hanesbrand Theatre, which was built within the renovated shell of a former truck maintenance garage. The Theatre provides flexible seating and staging for theatre, dance and film presentations. The project includes a new two-story lobby, green room, storage, offices and rehearsal space. The transformation of the streetscape created an inviting public venue that enriches our community both visually and through the activities and events held there.

The facility represents an important part of the ongoing downtown revitalization. It helps to extend activity beyond the Fourth and Trade Street corridors and anchors the southern end of the Downtown Theater District. Furthermore, it reinforces our community’s new image as “The City of Arts and Innovation” by establishing a large arts-based facility.

West Salem Tree Project, The West Salem Neighborhood Association - Winner of the Community Appearance Commission Award

A few years ago, residents discussed the possibility of enhancing the appearance of the neighborhood with more street trees. Barry Lyons, a neighborhood resident and former vice president of the neighborhood association, met with residents and city leaders to discuss the possibility of street trees being planted in the neighborhood. From this meeting, came the public-private partnership that is now known as the West Salem Tree Project.

After years of planning and fundraising, the West Salem Neighborhood Association raised a total of $10,500 through private donations, its residents, and a Twin City Garden Club donation. The money was used for the purchase of trees and a donation to Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful for the 2011 Community Roots Day that was held on Broad Street.

On October 8, 2011, 50 volunteers gathered as a community and planted 160 trees, including Crape Myrtles and Japanese Snowbells, along Academy and Hutton Streets. The West Salem Tree Project shows us that, through collaboration, leadership, and determination, residents within our community can have a profound impact on its appearance.

The Winston-Salem Vegetation Management Department - Winner of the Community Appearance Commission Award

The Vegetation Management Department is charged with maintaining all landscapes, turf, and trees on rights-of-way, city-owned property, and in city parks with the overall goal of providing a safe and beautiful city for resident and visitors of Winston-Salem.

Vegetation Management Staff mow approximately 1,000 acres of grass located in parks and rights-of-way on a biweekly basis. They also make sure that all landscapes in these areas are properly maintained and kept looking their best. With over 55 acres of landscaped areas, staff work hard to control weeds, prune shrubs, and mulch all areas. Staff also plants over 1,000 trees, 35,000 perennials, 65,000 annual flowers, 40,000 bulbs, and spread roughly 15,000 cubic yards of mulch each year.

The Urban Forestry staff maintain over 100,000 trees on city property. Not only does this include the planting of trees but also the removal of hazardous trees, pruning of limbs and cleanup of storm damage. The City Urban Forester also educates the public on proper tree pruning through educational seminars and a video that airs on TV 13.

The Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful program within the Vegetation Management Department works with the community on litter education and prevention, community clean-ups, and environmental education.

The Vegetation Management Department consistently strives to establish and maintain a beautiful city landscape for its residents and visitors. It also engages the community in educational programs.

The North Cherry Neighborhood Revitalization Project - Winner of the Classic Award

The North Cherry Neighborhood, located in northern Winston-Salem was certified as a redevelopment area in August 2000, with a redevelopment plan approval in April 2003. Through this process, it was determined that the area was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and in December 2004 was officially listed on the National Register. The area is significant for its history as a middle class African-American neighborhood during the industrial growth of Winston-Salem in the 1920s and 30s. The area also contains a collection of Y-stair plan apartments, unique to Winston-Salem, that were created to be an alternative to the shot-gun housing.

In 2008, Habitat for Humanity began talks with the city about ways to give the area a needed boost. Each structure was reviewed on ways to maintain their contribution to the Historic District. Through these discussions, a partnership was formed with a private organization to rehabilitate some of the houses and establish the Y-stair plan apartments came about.

With State Historic Preservation Office approval, a plan was devised to revitalize the neighborhood. Seven structures were proposed for demolition, seven structures were proposed for rehabilitation and the remainder of the neighborhood, was to remain in sound ownership.

Habitat for Humanity was able to build new homes in the area with the help of federal HUD funding administered by the City Community and Business Development Office. Mr. Dewey Anderson, of Blackpine Development, came on board as a private developer and rehabbed the Y-stair plan apartments. Another private developer, Community Infill Builders, also rehabbed some of the homes in the neighborhood. One of its partners, David Norman, organized a green Kudzu cleanup with the help of some local goats.

The revitalization efforts in the North Cherry Neighborhood took many years and multiple partners. It is through the collaborative efforts and determination of Habitat for Humanity, the City of Winston-Salem, Blackpine Development, and Community Infill Builders, that the project has been successful.

updated 2/11/2013

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